This guy took a flight on the world’s oldest Boeing 737 from the 1970s to see what would happen
- YouTuber Noel Philips flew on the world’s oldest Boeing 737-200
- The 737-200 has been flying in Venezuela since 2011
- The 737 is the world’s most popular airliner
Published on Feb 10, 2025 at 6:00 AM (UTC+4)
by Henry Kelsall
Last updated on Feb 06, 2025 at 1:52 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Tom Wood
British Aviation and travel YouTuber Noel Philips has taken a flight on the world’s oldest currently flying Boeing 737, which is currently operating in Venezuela.
It’s an aircraft that has been in regular commercial service for over 50 years.
Philips was taking a flight on the aircraft back to the Venezuelan capital city and – strangely – this isn’t the only old Boeing there.
Multiple 737s from the 1970s are still operating, even if many of them – as the video shows – have seen better days.
Check-in reveals the Boeing 737 as the oldest in the world
Following check-in and security, Philips finds his gate and sees that he indeed has the world’s oldest Boeing 737 as his aircraft for the flight.
This particular aircraft is a 737-200, built in 1978.
It’s the oldest 737 that members of the public can fly commercially.
The Boeing 737 is the world’s most popular airliner.
Since the first one was built in 1968, Boeing has built over 11,000 of them, and the jet is still in production in 2025.
The latest version of the aircraft is the 737 Max, which was grounded between 2019 and 2020 due to two fatal accidents.
Philips flight reveals the age and condition of the Boeing 737
The 737 in Philip’s video entered service with Frontier Airlines in 1978 before passing to United Airlines in 1985.
In 2011, the aircraft transferred to Venezuela, where it remains to this day.
Bizarrely, the aircraft has Southwest Airlines seats despite never operating with that airline.
Climbing aboard also reveals the general condition of the jet, with the seats falling apart, the windows scratched, and switches and knobs in poor condition.
The flight on the 737 passed successfully
Despite the age of the aircraft, Philips’ flight went without a hitch.
The 737 landed in the capital after Philips showed us how battered the seats really were while waiting for his in-flight drink.
After landing, Philips says farewell to the 737-200, likely his last flight on the aircraft.
There are only four other examples of the 737-200 in commercial service worldwide, and they will likely be retired soon.
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